The Baptism of Christ (1472–75), by Verrocchio and Leonardo da Vinci.
Cesare was not born, or not even two years old, when this was complete.

As we see, these were before Cesare was an adult. The pictures of Jesus look similar.

Not everyone with a beard and hair is Jesus. If anyone wanted Cesare to look like Christ, it was him and/or his father.

When I brought this up to the person in the discussion, he went ballistic. Insults, swearing, pointing out his many degrees, calling me an idiot and many more things. I pointed out it his anger doesn’t change the fact these are before Cesare was an adult or even born in some cases.

Despite this blog, many people whom I see in daily life are not religious. Most people don’t think that I’m a believer. It surprises them when they find out I am. I don’t know why.

The wording may not be exactly correct, nor the order I asked stuff, but this event occurred.

I was speaking to someone — a non-believer — a few days ago. For some reason, the topic of religion cropped up. His lack of knowledge of Christianity was astounding.

He told me how Jesus was a myth because they did not find his bones in his tomb.

I pointed out, further, that the body wouldn’t stay in the cave. People collected the bones of the deceased after a year. They would usually put them in a famliy ossuary. If not, they bury the body. He didn’t know what an ossuary was, so I explained that. It baffled him, but oh well.

I told him that, in Christianity, Christ rose from the dead. He stared at me in utter confusion. Then said he had never heard that.
Then, he said that he believed that twelve people made up Jesus: the disciples.

When I asked why he thinks that? They thought it would be funny.

I asked if he knew that, save one, all the disciples died horrible deaths. As did Paul. People killed them in violent ways for their message.
Why would they do that? Why would they not recant their message? If “twelve people” made up Christ, why would they die for it?

Why would the Bible record them the way it did? It has them doing unflattering things. It records them as weak, cowards, lazy and incompetent.
Often, they are unable to understand Christ. Why would they make up someone so much better and make themselves look like fools?
Why would none of them admit they made it up? Why would they die for something they knew was a lie?

People die for what they believe. People will kill and die for a religious belief. People will not die for something they know didn’t happen. They will not suffer for it.

And, out of twelve people, none of them recanted? None of them admitted it was a lie? None of them slipped up? When crucified, about to have their heads removed or skinned alive? None confessed to making it up?

He stared at me for a moment. Trying to think of something to say. ‘I don’t believe any of it anyway.’ He said, after a moment of silence.

‘But they did. And they died proclaiming what they had seen. They received nothing for it. No money. Just ridicule and death.’ I responded.
He changed the topic to what he was having for dinner that day.

Now, this is a cringeworthy discussion at the best of times. The real kicker?